|21|

•Charlotte•

"Good luck." Dad said to me, a smile on his face as he slowly started walking out of the kitchen. I smiled at him as I held onto one of his hands and walked him to the living room. 

He no longer slept upstairs so today after school, Mary and I were going to bring his bed downstairs. Lizzie was coming to help us redecorate the living room to make it a room for my dad. Walking upstairs was a nightmare for him. It was too hard, and Mary said we shouldn't strain his legs too much. 

"Thank you." I smiled at him as I helped him sit down slowly. Mary brought his bowl of porridge inside the room and she sat beside him on the couch. 

"I'll try to be home early today." I told Mary who nodded and smiled at me as I headed out of the house. 

The bruises from my face were healing quickly though I still needed to cover it with concealer so the marks were close to invisible. I pulled my jacket closer and the strap of my bag over my shoulder as I walked it to school. 

Lizzie didn't have her car today so she was walking it. She always set off earlier than usual because she never wanted to be late. To have those eyes on you when you walked into class. She hated it. 

I took a left on the sidewalk, and entertained the main road. I wanted for the traffic lights to turn red. 

"Charlotte!" A voice called out behind me. 

I turned around to see Alex, his eyes squinting to see if it was me or not as he ran a hand through his black hair. He walked towards me, a smile on his face, confusion in his eyes. 

Why was he here? 

"Hey." I said to him, forcing a smile on my face as we walked across the road together. "What are you doing here?" I asked politely. 

"I had a job interview at Joe's diner yesterday but I missed it so I came to apologise. What were you doing here?" He asked me confused as we walked together on the sidewalk. 

Lying seemed to be too easy, slipping past my tongue without a single thought. "I was just checking to see if the 24 hour shop was open. I had to reserve something for my dad." I told him and he nodded. 

"You come here often?" He asked me, his voice curious as I moved around a couple of people. 

"I work at Joe's diner." I chuckled as if the answer was obvious. 

"I didn't see you there yesterday." Alex pointed out. 

I tried to keep the frown off my face. "You just said you missed your interview yesterday." 

Was he lying? Mandy never needed new employees. Her and Tim worked perfectly and me helping was a bonus. 

"Sorry, I meant I did go yesterday but the man with tattoos, said she wasn't in. So that's why I missed it." He tried to explain and I nodded, not believing a word he said. Mandy was always in. 

Something was wrong with him. He was asking too many questions. He smiled at me, and looked away as well, probably knowing he fucked up. 

Did Ramon send him here? Did he know where I lived? 

It mattered because we were friends, even if Lizzie didn't believe we could just be friends, I didn't want his help. Ramon was rich, and I didn't want him to think I had become friends with him because of his money. 

We walked in silence, but together. Yesterday I couldn't keep the blush off my face as Lizzie squealed and danced happily. Daniel danced as well, having no idea why his sister was so happy. Lizzie dropped me off home a few minutes later and I showed the pictures to Mary and Dad of the cake I made. They ate some as well and said it tasted beautiful. 

Baking was an art and I liked it. It brought me peace on the rare days I baked. 

Alex and I arrived at school and we walked through the gates to see all of them waiting for us. Lizzie was standing besides Calvin, talking to him while Ramon watched every step we took towards him. 

"Hey." Josh said to us as he picked up his school bag from the floor and fist bumped Alex. "Tiffany said at her party that Mr Walter was taking us to italy this year. Every teacher wants to do their projects early in the year so they can concentrate on the exams later." He started to explain. 

I noticed a slight glare in Ramon's eyes directed towards Alex who didn't even look at him, as Alex asked. "Like last year? When we went to New York to see a bunch of museums?" 

Josh nodded at him, as I turned to look at Lizzie. I hadn't gone to New York last year. I took extra credit for missing out on the trip and had to write two essays, while the other students got 25 percent of their grade for just walking through museums. Mr Walter was our kind teacher. The one that let you get away with everything. 

"He's just waiting for today for all the projects to be finished in home ecs. Then he will let us know about it." Josh explained as I watched Ramon storm off. 

"What's wrong with him?" I asked, confused. Calvin and Josh shrugged their shoulders as Alex followed Ramon out of the school. 

"Come on." Lizzie grabbed my hand and walked me away from the boys who waited for Ramon and Alex. 

I followed Lizzie into the school and just as the doors shut behind us, people glancing and then looking away, she turned to me. "He was jealous." She whispered so nobody else could hear but her voice was full of excitement. 

"What?" I looked at her confused. Ramon Vitali did not get jealous. 

"He saw you walking into school with a smile on your face and with Alex. He said he was going to kill him. I could feel the jealousy, Charlotte." She grinned at me. 

I rolled my eyes at her as we walked towards my locker. "I wasn't going to have a resting bitch look on my face. Of course I was smiling." I shrugged my shoulder. 

She shook her head, laughing to herself as she leaned against the locker besides mine. I opened mine as she looked at me. "You're not going to Italy, are you? If it's true anyway." She frowned. 

I shook my head, closing the locker. "I'm just going to ask him if I can do something else instead." 

We walked towards our home ecs class as she answered. "Probably make you write four projects since this is Italy." She laughed as I smiled. 

I would do it just so I could stay home. 

"Are you coming over today?" I asked her as we walked into the class. We were missing English because this class was part of our whole grade. It was more important than reading books. 

Lizzie nodded as she walked towards the kitchen counters at the back. "I'll have to bring Daniel with me since mom has a date." She said to me and I grinned as I looked behind me at her. 

"Luke?" I asked and she nodded.

"He talked to me and Daniel yesterday and asked for our permission to marry her. I like Luke, he's good for her. Daniel just wants a dad." She chuckled at me as the boys walked into the room with the rest of the students. 

I faced the front, as Mr Collins walked in with a Starbucks drink and half a chocolate donut. "Give me one minute while I set everything up. "He chuckled as everyone found their partners. 

This was the kitchen that was on the first floor that was used for the students that took Food technology. We were using their classroom today. Every senior had the practical part of their coursework. 

Ramon stood besides me, not uttering a word to me. He unbuttoned the sleeves of his black shirt and rolled them before picking up an apron. We had agreed that he would bring all the ingredients but I had paid for half of them as well. They were all placed out in front of us on the counter. 

"Did you grow a vagina this morning?" I asked him as I picked up the other apron as Mr Collins tried to fix the projector. 

"Excuse me?" He looked at me confused as he rested his hand on the counter. 

"It seems like you're pmsing. Man periods?" I raised an eyebrow at him as he chuckled at me. 

"I'm fine, amore." He shook his head, a smile on his face as he pushed the measuring scale towards me and a few of the mixing bowls. 

"Everyone's always fine. Are you okay though?" I asked. He was being weird today and not his usual teasing self. 

"I'm okay." He chuckled at me. 

Maybe I was reading too much into it. 

I nodded as I watched Tiffany walk towards us. She smiled up at Ramon as she leaned against the counter. "Hi." Her voice was a purr as she trailed a hand up his arm. "Do you think we can celebrate after this?" 

I wanted to break her hand. Her arm. 

I looked away from them, as the image on the clear wall flickered as Mr Collins tried to fix it. I pretended I wasn't listening to them as I positioned the mixing bowls in a straight line. 

"Celebrate what?" Ramon asked her, his voice low as if he didn't want me to hear him. 

"Passing this test. We can celebrate in Italy under the stars, just you and I." 

I turned to look at them. "Keep the celebrations for later. We've got a test to do so go." I dismissed her and she rolled her eyes and walked away from us as Mr Collins finally fixed the projector and a timer of two hours was shown on the wall.

"Start." Mr Collins grinned at us as he pressed the timer and it started ticking loudly in the room. 

I started measuring the ingredients, falling into the same routine as yesterday as Ramon worked on the fondant. We were silent, as he hummed to himself while working. 

"It seems like you're upset with me." I said to him, glancing up at him as I poured all the wet ingredients into the big bowl and placed it down. 

"Amore." He grabbed my wrist before I could pick up the hand mixer and turned me around to face him. I looked up at him as he smirked. "If I was upset with you, you wouldn't see me here making fondant roses." he said chuckling as I smiled. "I'm just thinking about something." He said and I nodded as I felt his thumb on my wrist and I looked down at it. He was making a star with his finger. 

"Guys." I heard Calvin hissing at us and I quickly pulled away. "You can do all the romantic stuff later. Get to work." He told us as I heard Lizzie laugh behind me. 

I was going to kill her. 

***

I pulled out my phone to see a message from Ramon as I waited for Lizzie to walk her brother to the car. Her mom had dropped the car off at her at lunch. 

You fell in love with me today. I saw the jealous looks you gave to Tiffany. 

I rolled my eyes, a smile on my face as I replied back to him. Just being a decent friend and saving you. 

Be more than a friend. Was his reply and I pushed my phone into my pocket as Lizzie walked towards the car. Daniel was holding her hand and he waved at me as he noticed me sat in the car. I grinned and waved back. 

Ramon and I had done our practical test. He was laughing by the end of it, making the class turn to look at him. I told him to show his bad boy side and give everyone the middle finger. He smirked and did exactly that, making them all turn away from him. 

Mr Collins had taken pictures of everyone's dish and we had a mini food party so everyone could taste everything. In the end, he would mark it without telling us the grade until he read our paper that we handed in. Mrs Margaret was supposed to help him but she was ill and couldn't come to school. 

Lizzie was coming home with me now to help me reorganize everything. Daniel sat inside the car, jumping into his booster seat. He pulled the seat belt on and smiled at me. "Are we going to see Aunt Mary?" He asked excitedly and I nodded as Lizzie closed the door to him and sat in her seat. 

"You can play in my room while your sister and I move stuff." I told him as Lizzie handed him the iPad and he nodded. She started driving. 

The afternoon was going to be a busy day for me. I needed to go and see Joe as well since he kept on texting me. I need to see you. Gym.

It was important. Joe never texted me about anything related to the gym. I was tempted to call him but I was going there tonight anyway. 

Lizzie drove to my house and parked in her usual spot. We had spray painted a white box in front of my house so nobody could park here. Not a lot of people had cars in this street though. 

"Can Aunt Mary make me her jolly rice?" Daniel asked with a big grin on his face as he undid his seatbelt. 

"Jollof rice, Danny." Lizzie chuckled at him as we got out of the car as he shouted yes yes yes. 

I stared up at my house as I closed the door. 

One day I was going to buy my dad a better house, with a nice garden so we could sit outside. A place that didn't smell of drugs. 

***

"You've been hanging around the wrong people, kid." Mark shook his head at me as he opened the door to the gym. 

I frowned but he couldn't see it. I didn't say a word as I noticed not a single person in the gym. He grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the main office. 

Mark opened the door and walked me inside. I saw Joe standing there, cursing at himself. Mark shut the door and I pulled my mask off quickly. This was a private place. 

"What happened?" I asked, confused as Joe turned to look at me. 

"I have the fucking Mafia on my doorstep." He groaned out loud. "They're asking about you. They want to see your face. They want to know who the lightning devil is. They want to talk to you. I'm going to die." He was rambling. 

I had never seen Joe rambling. There was genuine fear in his eyes as he glanced around the place as if it was a fingertip away from being snatched from him. 

"I haven't done anything wrong." I told them both as Mark dropped himself down onto the couch, letting out a sigh. 

"We're fucked." He muttered. 

I turned to look at Joe, a pleading look in my eyes. "I don't want to talk to them. Whoever they are. Don't show my face, please." 

His eyes softened at me. "We're not going to rat you out, kid. We need to come up with a way to get you off their radar." 

Joe and Mark didn't know about Logan but this was his next move. The one Cameron had warned me about before disappearing. Logan had a lot of people on his side, people I had met when I was tempted to join. He had shown me around his family. There were hundreds of people with him, wanting me on their side. 

His name was written all over this. To put fear in them but it didn't make any sense. Logan already knew who I was. Nothing made sense. 

I watched Joe walk towards his desk and pulled open the draw. "I want you to have these." He places two gold knuckle dusters on the desk. "I can't constantly be with you but if they come for you, this should help." He pushed them towards me. 

"Who are they, Joe?" I asked, confused as I walked towards the desk. 

"The Vitali Family. They're known for their ruthlessness, Kid. You don't want to cross them."

I froze besides the desk and raised my head up to look at him. "The Vitali family?" 

He nodded. 

Alex lied to me today in the morning saying he got a job at Joe's diner. They lived together. All of them. Ramon Vitali. 

Did they know who I was? They were part of the mafia? I wondered if they were like Logan, wanting me on their side. 

I wanted to go barging into his house, to scream at him and to tell him to leave me out of this feud. Whatever they had going on. I wasn't stupid though. That would give them the green light, confirm every assumption they had about me. 

How long have they known for? 

I wasn't going to let my mind overthink this. I was going to push it out, deny anything he said. I would question him tomorrow, ask him why Alex was following me. Get him to confess himself that he was stalking me. 

"What's wrong?" Joe asked, seeing the wheels turning in my mind. 

"I can fix it." I said, picking up the knuckle dusters and hiding them in my pocket. 

"What are you up to, kid?" Mark called from the couch. 

I pulled the string on my mask. "The lightning devil is disappearing. I'm going underground." I told them. 

Joe raised an eyebrow at me as Mark stood up, looking confused. "No more fights?"

"They'll be watching me, waiting for me outside the gym. I can't afford to fuck up. I have five days left till my birthday. I can't afford to go in there with bruises on my face." I explained to them. 

My birthday was in five days and I would be 18. Legal enough to be dad's caretaker. I was low on money though but I was going to pay it off. 

I looked towards Joe. "I need seven thousand dollars. If you can lend it to me, I'll pay you back the moment I make it. I'll fight after midnight as well." 

Dad would be in a private room in a hospital, and I would be at home alone. It was better than being home. 

Joe nodded immediately. "You can take your time." He said as he walked towards his safe behind the painting. "Just stay low and I'll deny everything." 

They were my guardian angels, always willing to help me, no matter what it cost them. The lightning devil was known in the streets. The name was feared throughout the underground world. 

I was putting the lightning devil to sleep for the next few weeks. Completely getting rid of her until this calmed down. 

I wasn't going to change the way I was, it would draw attention to me. They would be watching me, Alex following me was already confirmation for me that they thought it could be me. 

It made sense. 

Calvin saw me with Cameron in the alley that was a street away from the Gym where the lightning devil fought. Cameron joined school and I claimed he was my ex. I came to school with bruises on my face, no matter how much I tried to hide them, Ramon was watching. 

If there was a feud between them, then they knew Cameron worked for Logan. 

It made fucking sense. 

Joe walked towards me with four bags of money. "That's eight thousand." He handed it to me. "He usually comes around this time so stay up here. I'll text you when to leave. Keep your head low and don't come to the diner either." He told me as I shoved the bags in my hoodie pocket. 

I nodded at them as they walked towards the door. "Concentrate on school, Kid." Mark grinned at me and they walked out of the office. 

Ramon Vitali was at my school. 

He knew who I was. 

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Can we just talk about how they both know about each other and their 'other' lives but they don't know that the other one knows that they know. If that makes any sense.

Question- Favourite genre to read?